Tag Archives: thriller

MOVES Blitz

 

MOVES cover

 

Mystery, Crime, Thriller

 

 

Date Published: 7/7/16

In the blink of an eye, Robert Jake’s perfect life became hell.

Jake, a radio talk show host with a pregnant wife, had the perfect life until, in a moment of “Patriotic Stupidity” he decided to stop talking for a living and start shooting to help his country.

Deployed to Iraq, he barely made it home alive, shot-up and full of shrapnel, after a fatal ambush.

Moves is a mixture of single parent meets thriller, action, and suspense in bucket loads. If you like intrigue, plots with twists and turns, a little bit of romance and a story that keeps you holding your breath until the very last page; read on. Moves is a chess game of a page turner, where each chapter keeps you trying to outguess the killer.

We encounter Robert Jakes story, and the stories of those around him, at several points as flashbacks and therapy start to fill in aspects of his past. Jakes suffers with memory loss, bouts of depression and anger caused through PTSD. During an ambush 18 soldiers under his command lost their lives. His wife having died of breast cancer forces him to be a single parent to Rose, his young daughter, whom he loves deeply. She has inherited a little of both her parents, mom’s DNA and his love for flying. He will do anything to protect her. Not understanding why, his life suddenly becomes complicated when the murders of the Dallas District Attorney and two innocent women seem to be connected to him. He gets help from a colleague to help join the dots as his life tumbles out of control.

Jakes life is now embroiled with murder attempts, not only on himself, but on the important people in his life. He has to dig in deep to keep himself balanced while trying to figure out, what the hell is going on.

MOVES phone


About the Author

John Michaels

After many successful years in the broadcasting world, working as a sought-after radio personality, John Michaels was prompted into a writing career by a casual remark over a meal in a restaurant.

John’s former girlfriend gets credit for putting the writing bug in his head. They were having lunch and she was reading the first part of a memoir he had written. She reached over and stopped his fork midway between food and mouth and said, “This is terrific.” Five minutes later, she kept another fork from reaching its destination with, “You should write a novel. Make it a crime novel. It’ll be good.”

His first novel, ‘Moves’ was just that, a fast-moving thriller. However, it took him 12 years to finish, but he had really good excuses.

When he began to write, there were huge amounts of time when he had no time. Throat cancer surgery and subsequent radiation capped off with a subdural hematoma wiped out an entire year. Months were spent learning how to put a book together. Reading Steven King’s ‘On Writing’ helped.

John has had a love of the science fiction genre which he got into at the age of 10. He is following his passion for reading and taking it into writing, He is already working on his second novel which will be a sci-fi.

As a reader, his favorite Sci-Fi authors are Robert Heinlein, Philip K Dick, Issac Asimov, Carl Sagan, Arthur C Clarke, Ray Bradbury and a lot more.

Away from sci-fi, he loves Elizabeth Kolbert, Lee Child, Barry Eisler, Michael Connelly, John Sandford, Walter Isaacson and a hundred other talented women and men who offer you an escape into whatever world they have created.

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Looks that Deceive Blitz

 

Looks that Deceive cover

 

MedAir Series, Book 1

Thriller, Medical Thriller, Crime Thriller

 

Publisher: Christen Haus Publishing

FREE in ebook format at all online retailers.

Two prominent medical malpractice attorneys are dead.

Can you imagine the stuff flowing downhill into Detective Lynch Cully’s lap? From his lieutenant’s office. From his chief’s office. The mayor’s office. The governor. He’s already facing the toughest case of his career: a serial assailant who leaves his victims unable to testify. Are these cases related? Has the perpetrator upped his game?

Amy Gibbs, RN is a newly recruited med-evac flight nurse who left the ER, its stress, and memories of a certain detective behind. On one fateful call, she hears the deathbed confession of a man whom police are seeking as a person of interest in the attacks.

Within hours, the lives of Amy Gibbs and Lynch Cully intertwine in a story that unravels a web of identity theft, electronic eavesdropping, and stalking amid a confusion of identities. Can Lynch move one step ahead of this killer? Or is the distraction—of a girlfriend he regrets leaving—too much?

Other Books in the MedAir Series

 

 

MedAir Series

 

Rescued and Remembered

 

MedAir Series, Book Two

Coming back from the dead isn’t easy . . .

When you have to save the one who saved you.

The Silenced Shooter

MedAir Series, Book Three

Tired of federal gridlock?

Can you trust the federal government anymore?

Wrongfully Removed

MedAir Series, Book Four

What would you do to protect your family?

Would you stand up to the government?

A Zealot’s Destiny

MedAir Series, Book Five

Who is trying to eliminate the British Royal Family? And why? After all, the monarchy is largely ceremonial and symbolic.

Kidnapped Nation

MedAir Series, Book Six

Will the people elect the status quo?

Or is a major presidential upset in the wind?

The Khmer Connection

MedAir Series, Book Seven

What do you do? Where do you go?

. . . when the devil is right on your heels.

Resurrected Trouble

MedAir Series, Book Eight

Lynch Cully and Amy Gibbs have returned home, leaving the worst behind them in Southeast Asia. Or did they?

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Looks that Deceive paperback


About the Author

Braxton DeGarmo

Braxton DeGarmo spent over 30 years in Emergency and Family Medicine, both in and out of the military, before retiring to focus on writing in 2014. Many of the incidents in his books are based on real occurrences, people, and experiences in his own life, such as learning to escape a water crash in a helicopter. Human trafficking, medical kidnapping, government corruption, and other social injustices have become the premises used for his stories. And the technologies described in his books are all current . . . and possible.

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The Pepper Tree Blitz

 

The Pepper Tree cover

 

Thriller, Mystery, Police Procedural

 

 

Publisher: Aakenbaaken & Kent

A Southern California landmark primarily known only to law enforcement earned a reputation for crime scenes of the most unspeakably vicious homicides. Infamous serial killers had chosen this location to discard and display their victims as trophies of their horrific deeds. Lieutenant Scott Hunter must lead a team of detectives to identify and capture a perpetrator who’s targeting young women, and has chosen this landmark to showcase his victims.

This story is a work of fiction, but the Orange County location is real. So notorious, in fact, that those officers working the graveyard shift need only radio their activity at a site bearing two words, and they are immediately dispatched a back-up officer to the “pepper tree.”

As a young patrol officer, Hunter had been introduced to the “terror at the tree” on an evening when he turned his police cruiser down that dusty road separating asparagus fields, and discovered a corpse hanging from a low-hanging limb. But now as the leader of the Robbery/Homicide team, he received that most dreaded call interrupting the stillness of the night, a body dump.

The Pepper Tree phone

 

Excerpt

 

 

Chapter 1

Like the mast of a majestic clipper ship rising vertically through the horizon, the trunk and its heavily leaved branches interrupted the monotonous plane of the two-lane roadway. Interstate 405 ran parallel to Barranca Road, giving motorists driving northbound from Sand Canyon to Jeffrey Road an expansive view of the tree and its surroundings. Bordered by asparagus fields, Barranca was seldom traveled, but the pepper tree announced its presence, and the density of its foliage shielded the most unspeakable of crimes.

By day the tree was odd; almost enigmatic. Why one, rather than a row? By night, it was an ominous adversary; in particular, to the officers of the graveyard shift. Most activities observed were cars with fogged windows, or simply the impromptu beer bust. But for the serial killer, it seemed to be a magnet that hypnotically drew the perpetrator toward the culminating acts of his horrific crime. It was the kind of place training officers, would admonish trainees to pay particular attention to possible ambush, proper illumination, and the avoidance of passing in front of spotlights, and backlighting you as a target.

This evening was going to prove to be the very thing about which Officer Jim Janowitz had been warned. When his flashlight revealed the woman’s leg, the history of this site flashed before him within a millisecond. Serial killer Randy Kraft had been convicted for the murder of a man whose body had been dumped at this very spot. The newspapers had sensationalized the crime by sharing that a four-foot twig had been stuffed into the victim’s body cavity. Two months prior to the discovery of Kraft’s crime, Gerald Shill had chosen this tree to dispose of a prostitute he had shot to death. Now this.

Janowitz hit the high beams and directed his driver side spotlight across the hood of his cruiser, while with shaking hands he radioed for back-up.

The spotlight illuminated her entire body from feet toward the crown of her head, as she lay prone, and nude from the waist down. Her dark hair, draped over the shoulders of a blue long-sleeved blouse, was matted with blood that sparkled from the beams of light projecting from the idling patrol car. With his flashlight in his left hand, he got out of the patrol car leaving the door ajar.

As he awaited the arrival of what would soon become a busy crime scene, Janowitz surveyed the open field leading from the tree to the freeway, straining to see any signs of human shadows that might have fled upon discovering the approaching sedan bearing an overhead light bar. He rounded the trunk and ducked below the flashing amber caution light, carefully stepping toward the body, scanning for threats, while trying to avoid trampling evidence. He swept the immediate perimeter ensuring there was no further danger, and checked the victim to confirm that she was, in fact, deceased.

The familiar roar of an accelerating V-8, signaled to him that help was on the way in the form of the Area 4 car, manned by Officer Karl Peterson.

As Peterson’s cruiser approached from the north, he could see the tree awash in the lights beaming from his partner’s patrol car. The scene appeared surreal – a pale, mannequin-like figure lying face down in the dirt, at the base of a huge tree, with a slender uniformed officer standing over the body.

You call a supervisor?”

I phoned Austin. I heard him radio that he was Code 7 (meal) at Denny’s and figured he didn’t hear my call; the reception’s so bad there,” Janowitz responded, gesturing with his cell phone.

Let’s get a unit to block Barranca at Sand Canyon, and another to block it off at Jeffrey. I’ll call it in, and you can start setting up a cone pattern for the crime scene.”

Roger, that.”

Austin can make the call for the homicide team.”

**********

Sergeant Richard Austin’s supervisor’s unit lumbered down the potholed, graveled asphalt of Barranca Road. The 20-year veteran was in a sour mood. Although he was the senior supervisor in Patrol, he was forced by policy to rotate onto graveyards for a three-month stint, and he had just sat down for dinner when this dead body call came out. He had a feeling that he would be standing a long time, and his back would be smarting from the weight of his Sam Browne gun belt. It was day three of his 4-day work week, and it looked as if his uniform wouldn’t make it to day four before needing dry cleaning. Austin slowly strode from his unit toward Janowitz after glancing at the body.

Are you sure she’s dead?”

I checked carotid, no pulse. I looked for lividity, and saw signs of blood pooling on the exposed extremities – knees, thighs…”

This is Irvine, Janowitz, America’s safest city; we generally frown on this type of activity.” Austin responded sarcastically.

The sergeant then began to approach the body, tracking across the dirt shoulder of the road.

Sarge, careful, there’re some footprints around her that aren’t mine.”

I’ve handled more dead bodies than you’ve taken petty theft reports Junior.”

Janowitz hoped Austin’s bluster was compensation for the sobering scene that lay before them. Viewing bodies was, unfortunately, part of the job, but what appeared to be a beautiful girl being discarded at the foot of this tree seemed, well, monstrous.

Austin reached over and separated several strands of the victim’s dark brown hair glued together with dried blood, revealing what appeared to be an entry wound.

Well, Janowitz, looks like this young lady has a bullet hole in her skull. I’ll call Homicide.”

**********

About the Author

Dave Freedland

Dave Freedland is a 34-year decorated law enforcement professional having served with the Irvine (California) Police Department. Following a competitive athletic career culminating with the award of “UCLA’s Most Valuable Gymnast,” he graduated 1st in his Sheriff’s academy class. As a SWAT team leader and commander for over 25 years, he supervised operations for numerous barricade and hostage incidents, and was the recipient of several awards including “Police Officer of the Year” and the “Meritorious Service Award.” He retired at the rank of Deputy Chief, and currently holds a 6th degree black belt in Japanese Shotokan karate. His first novel, Lincoln 9, was Oak Tree Press’ best-selling book on Amazon in 2015. His second novel, The Pepper Tree, published by Aakenbaaken & Kent, received a 2018 manuscript award from the Public Safety Writers’ Association.

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Debt Bomb Virtual Book Tour

 

Thriller/Suspense/Spy Fiction/Political Fiction

 

Date Published: July 1, 2021

Publisher: BQB Publishing

China hungers to take the United States’ place as the global hegemon.

And it is plotting to use America’s $40 trillion national debt to do it.

Only one person stands in China’s way: suburban accountant Andrea Gartner.

For years she has dreaded the day of America’s reckoning about its national debt. She’s gotten involved in local politics. She’s run for Congress. But the debt marches remorselessly higher.

Rejected by her party in her congressional race, she joins the insurgent presidential campaign of Congressman Earl Murray. When he wins in an upset, he defies all Washington convention and names Andrea his Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Washington rookie finally has her chance to solve America’s debt addition.

But China has other plans, engineering financial crises and military confrontations designed to bankrupt and collapse the United States. Wars rage overseas as America’s health care system, schools, and social fabric disintegrate. Desperately coping with these existential threats to America’s very existence, Andrea finds herself enmeshed in vicious Washington infighting with belligerent military brass and ruthless politicians, including the powerful and complicated Congressman Lewis Mason and his chief of staff Frank Palmer. Chinese agents lurk in the shadows, threatening Andrea’s life and family, as she struggles to keep the country afloat.

No aspect of American life is spared as the country teeters on the brink of financial collapse. Can Andrea stave off China’s assault and ensure the United States survives? Or will the Red Chinese flag fly over the American Capitol?

Debt Bomb is a sobering fictional account of a future facing the United States if it fails to control its debt and get its financial house in order.

 

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EXCERPT

After nearly two decades as an accountant, Andrea Gartner had fatally wielded ledger books more times than she cared to remember. She was well acquainted 

with watching entire lives unravel before her, tears streaming down the faces of grown men annihilated by simple balance sheets charting their financial ruin in ink redder than blood. 

Today, she found herself in that painfully familiar spot once more. 

She fixed her eyes on the man sitting opposite her, Cam Davis, owner of the largest chain of furniture stores in Columbia, South Carolina. She was the only thing standing between him and the end of his financial life as he knew it. His devil-may-care attitude—

the source of so much of his business success—had now left him teetering on the precipice of bankruptcy. 

“You have an existential debt problem,” said Andrea. 

Telling the cocksure, self-styled Mattress King of South Carolina he was flirting with financial ruin was terrifying, but what Andrea truly feared was him ignoring her dire warnings. She prayed she wasn’t about to watch another client whistle past the graveyard of fiscal reality. 

“A what problem?” asked Cam incredulously. “Come on. I sold more furniture last year than my next two competitors combined.” 

“I’ve been through your books,” she replied. “Your finances are a house of cards. You’re a hair’s breadth from complete bankruptcy.” 

Cam didn’t act like someone about to go broke. Everyone in Columbia knew he was one of the most generous people in the city. Every Christmas, he donated hundreds of mattresses to homeless shelters. When his alma mater, the University of South Carolina, made the playoffs in any sport, he’d give away free sofas to the first fifty customers in his stores the next day. He sponsored Little League teams and 5K races for charity. His heart was big. 

His wallet was even bigger and seemingly always open. 

She glanced out the window. The Mattress King’s red Ferrari with “MTRSKNG” vanity license plates was parked next to her battered ten-year-old Toyota Camry. His thousand-dollar sports coat and Rolex contrasted sharply with the peeling wallpaper and army surplus furniture of her office. Even his cologne smelled expensive. 

“You can’t be serious,” said Cam. “I’ve got twenty stores in Columbia. And twenty more across the rest of the state. If I need cash, I’ll borrow it. No bank is going to turn down a loan application from the Mattress King.” 

Here we go again, she thought. He’s not getting it, and I’m not getting through to him.

About the Author

Michael E. Ginsberg

Michael E. Ginsberg is an attorney in Washington, DC practicing in the field of national security law. He spent a decade in private practice at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, DC and then worked several years in the U.S. government as a Senior Associate General Counsel in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), where he served as legal counsel for the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). He currently is Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at a Virginia-based defense contractor.

Ginsberg has also served in senior leadership positions in the Republican Party of Virginia and is the co-founder of the Suburban Virginia Republican Coalition.

A 1997 graduate of Harvard College and 2002 graduate of Harvard Law School, he also holds a master’s in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University (1999). A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Ginsberg lives in Virginia with his wife and two children.

 

 

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Debt Bomb RELEASE Blitz

 

Debt Bomb cover

 

Thriller/Suspense/Spy Fiction/Political Fiction

 

Date Published: July 1, 2021

Publisher: BQB Publishing

China hungers to take the United States’ place as the global hegemon.

And it is plotting to use America’s $40 trillion national debt to do it.

Only one person stands in China’s way: suburban accountant Andrea Gartner.

For years she has dreaded the day of America’s reckoning about its national debt. She’s gotten involved in local politics. She’s run for Congress. But the debt marches remorselessly higher.

Rejected by her party in her congressional race, she joins the insurgent presidential campaign of Congressman Earl Murray. When he wins in an upset, he defies all Washington convention and names Andrea his Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Washington rookie finally has her chance to solve America’s debt addition.

But China has other plans, engineering financial crises and military confrontations designed to bankrupt and collapse the United States. Wars rage overseas as America’s health care system, schools, and social fabric disintegrate. Desperately coping with these existential threats to America’s very existence, Andrea finds herself enmeshed in vicious Washington infighting with belligerent military brass and ruthless politicians, including the powerful and complicated Congressman Lewis Mason and his chief of staff Frank Palmer. Chinese agents lurk in the shadows, threatening Andrea’s life and family, as she struggles to keep the country afloat.

No aspect of American life is spared as the country teeters on the brink of financial collapse. Can Andrea stave off China’s assault and ensure the United States survives? Or will the Red Chinese flag fly over the American Capitol?

Debt Bomb is a sobering fictional account of a future facing the United States if it fails to control its debt and get its financial house in order.

About the Author

Michael E. Ginsberg

Michael E. Ginsberg is an attorney in Washington, DC practicing in the field of national security law. He spent a decade in private practice at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, DC and then worked several years in the U.S. government as a Senior Associate General Counsel in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), where he served as legal counsel for the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). He currently is Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at a Virginia-based defense contractor.

Ginsberg has also served in senior leadership positions in the Republican Party of Virginia and is the co-founder of the Suburban Virginia Republican Coalition.

A 1997 graduate of Harvard College and 2002 graduate of Harvard Law School, he also holds a master’s in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University (1999). A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Ginsberg lives in Virginia with his wife and two children.

 

 

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